Why did colonial governments appoint warrant chiefs in southern West Africa?

A warrant chief is a *traditional leader established by colonial warrant. Under systems of *indirect rule, *colonial regimes co-opted pre-existing authority. Basically Europeans would find a motive to help do their bidding. They are better able to manipulate indigenous people by setting up a warrant chief as a sort of puppet government. It is a way to cause strife among the power structure of indigenous peoples: it helps them divide and conquer.